Spectra reps unfamiliar with Spectra fines @ LCC 2013-12-09

Both of Spectra’s principal representatives to the Lowndes County Commission
and the Dougherty County Commission claim not to be familiar
with Spectra’s well-known public record of safety violations,
and some of what they say contradicts the public record,
so how can we believe any of their safety assertions about
Spectra’s proposed Sabal Trail Transmission pipeline?

Her excuse for the compressor leak, if I recall correctly,
was that there are two compressors and it was the other one,
and besides occasional releases are normal. Plus since she
talked to them everybody in Pennsylvania is happy.

At the same October meeting, I also asked her about the
Final Order against Spectra of 21 December 2012 by
PHMSA, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
That final order for fines on five different points
cited failure to follow both federal regulations
and Spectra’s own company procedures.
She disclaimed any familiarity with that.

Safety is a huge factor when it comes to a project of this
magnitude. Since the Southeast is prone to hurricanes and tornadoes,
Sabal Trail considered that, and said their pipeline will be made to
withstand those events. Also, the pipe will be monitored 24/7. The
monitoring system will be fitted with sensors which would detect
leaks. The pipeline will have shut-off valves that will be shut off
remotely in the event of a leak. Sabal Trail will walk the pipeline
regularly checking for anomalies, such as the changing of the color
of the grass, which is an indicator that the pipe requires
maintenance at that location.

Yet one reason for that PHMSA Final Order was that at least one of
Spectra’s own employees revealed that,
according to Natural Gas Watch 19 June 2013,
“Spectra Energy Employee: We Never Bothered to Check Natural Gas Pipeline for Corrosion”.

The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. §19 2.475 (b)
by failing, in two instances, to inspect the internal surface of
removed sections of pipe for evidence of corrosion. Specifically,
the Notice alleged that inspection reports indicated Respondent
failed to inspect the internal surface of certain pipe sections for
evidence of corrosion, even though they had been repaired by welding
in two full circumference sections of pipe.

Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation.
Accordingly, based upon a review of all of the evidence, I find that
Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. §192.475 (b) by failing, in two
instances, to inspect the internal surface of removed sections of
pipe for evidence of corrosion.

WALB didn’t air much of that video, but you can see
her claiming Spectra is oh so responsive to PHMSA.
Why should we believe Grover’s safety assertions, when she
claims unfamiliarity with Spectra’s safety record,
and what she does say sometimes contradicts the public record?

Before I dragged Grover on camera (to be fair, she readily agreed
to be on TV), Spectra rep. Brian Fahrenthold (visible in the background in the WALB video)
also disclaimed any familiarity with any of those fines.
Local activist Mary Booker
recorded the moment.

Fahrenthold’s “unfamiliar” was what irritated me enough to drag
Grover onto camera. I picked her instead of him because I had
already asked her about fines, so she had no excuse not to have
an answer.

Yet both of Spectra’s primary representatives to the
Lowndes County Commission to present Spectra’s case claimed
unfamiliarity with Spectra’s well-known track record of major fines.

Brian Fahrenthold, the state and local government affairs director
for Houston-based Spectra Energy, assured commissioners and
landowners impacted by the pipeline that his company will
“meet or exceed all safety standards” required by
federal officials during construction of the $3 billion project that
will, when completed, send 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per
day into Florida from central Alabama.

First, note he only said “during construction”.
What about during the longterm hazard Spectra proposes
to leave plowed through our rivers, wetlands, fields, and near our
churches, schools, and homes?
And how can we believe any of his safety assertions
when he says he is unfamiliar with Spectra’s own safety record?

How can we believe what Brian Fahrenthold asserted to the
Lowndes County Commission in an open public meeting only a few minutes before
he disclaimed that familiarity?
As
quoted in the VDT (with
LAKE videos), he said:

“We strive everyday for zero incidences.
All of our meetings, company wide, starts with a safety update.”

How can we believe any of Grover’s or Fahrenthold’s safety asseertions?

Who at Spectra can actually claim any familiarity with Spectra’s
safety violations,
and who does have any control over them?

Take a stand against the the pipeline by sending in your comment to FERC.gov. At the website you eRegister and they send you an email. Once registered you can submit a comment on docket # PF14-1. Find below an example of a comment, feel free to copy any or all as you please:
Sabal Trail pipeline proposal poses a significant safety threat to our community through accidents. Leaks from such pipelines in the US have caused explosions and have destroyed homes and killed people 29 times this year alone. Since the proposed pipeline is much larger than any of these recent explosions, a pipeline of 36 inch radius could do extreme damage if such an accident should occur in the Lowndes county area where it is proposed. Not only those living near the pipeline but residences and businesses within a mile radius of the pipeline are at risk. Spectra has a record of violations leading to more than $50 million in fines and more than $8 million in property damage. Therefore, Spectra ‘s proposal represents a significant risk to our community and our residents.
Even the installation of such a pipeline would be devastating to the local environment and to the property values of the land owners directly impacted and the surrounding properties.
Not only is Sabal Trail pipeline a bad idea for the property owners and the residence it would negatively impact the environment by putting at risk numerous endangered species; gopher tortoises, fox squirrels , and red caucated woodpecker, in our area.
In addition, 7 counties in Georgia would be impacted by this proposed pipeline and no one in Georgia would benefit from the product being piped through it. We take all the risk and have NO benefit.
Finally, this gas pipeline as with every other pipeline supports the destruction of clean water and clean air that occurs when hydrofracking is implemented to extract natural gas from the shale. Homes and lives are lost through this dangerous and extremely hazardous extraction method.
As a resident of Georgia I do not support hydro Fracking and its danger to water, soil and air as I do NOT support the proposed pipeline through my community of Lowndes County.